Twelve-year-old Elijah Jonas has suddenly become a partner to his truck driver father Micah. After the death of his mother, Elijah stopped talking. Believing that he needed to be with his father, his grandparents gave him over to Micah, who lives in his semi truck. Now Elijah must learn how to live the lifestyle of an over-the-road truck driver. Finally he relaxes enough to speak, but only saying Bible verses. He and his father learn to translate the verses to meaning what they wish to say to each other. When his dad wants him to dress his feet, he says, "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes." (Song of Solomon 7:1) The two receive many stares when they speak this way in public. Gradually, both of them heal over the loss of their beloved wife and mother. And together they learn to know God better as they travel from one end of the country to the other, living in the truck, meeting new people every day.
About the Author: Sally Hull has written over forty books. After graduating from Gladwin High School in Michigan, she studied at Toronto Baptist Seminary in Canada, as well as Mid Michigan Community College and Central Michigan University. After a variety of teaching jobs in America, Sally traveled to China to teach English to college students one year and grade school children the following year. She earned her TESOL license as well. She now lives in Montana with her husband Charlie, photographer and writer. Sally comments on her story: "Less than a week before Christmas, a man died-a man I never met. He was an over-the-road truck driver. As far as I know, he had no family. The only people in his life were other drivers, and the mechanics from the company he worked for. My husband learned that he was in the hospital with only a couple of weeks expected to live. He was going to visit him after work, and day after day for as long as he would be there. That afternoon, my husband called me and said, "I'll be home at the regular time." "Aren't you going to the hospital?" I asked. "He isn't there any more." "Did he die?" "Yes." As far as I know, he was all alone. My heart hurts for this man I never met. I don't know what his beliefs were. I don't know if he knew God. All I know is that he is now in eternity. Have you ever thought about the truck drivers who deliver your supplies? It is so easy to pay them no heed. After all, don't they get paid for their work? Yes, they do. They also put in long hours on lonely runs, day after day, week after week, year after year. And every one of them has a story. Every one of them is a living soul of great value. For the past few years, I have gone on truck driving jobs with my husband, dragging back trucks that have blown engines or gotten wrecked. I've had the privilege of meeting many drivers. Each one is unique-each an artwork of God. I have now completed the kids' story of: That Truck Driver is My Dad. In it I describe the daily life of an over-the-road truck driver. It is about a twelve-year-old boy and his truck driver dad, who is a widower. Next time you pass an eighteen-wheeler on the road, remember that he or she is either someone's beloved spouse or parent, or may have no one at all. And yet there he/she sits driving along, faithfully delivering the product. They are often the overlooked and forgotten ones, whose absence would cripple our nation. Why not take time and pray for these unsung heroes? "